Pugilists fight it out for honours at 4 at War
Elsewhere in a fight of champions, South African and International Boxing Organisation All Africa super middleweight champion Rowan Campbell knocked SA light heavyweight champion Nicholas Radley in the fourth of their 10-round catch weight clash.
Golden Gloves’ junior middleweight super four tournament, 4 at War, witnessed two upsets at Emperors Palace on Saturday evening with the kick-off of the first round.
In the first semi-final, Brandon Thysse watered down being underdog to a mere title with a brilliant showing against initial favourite Roarke Knapp before stopping him in the seventh round.
In the second semi-final, former mixed martial arts athlete Boyd Allen, given little chance by bookies, caused the second upset of the evening when he denied the more fancied Tristan Truter in the last round of their bout.
Both bouts were scheduled for 10 rounds.
Not all was lost for either loser though, with all four pugilists pocketing R200 000 after the night.
Thysse will now move on to face Allen in the finale, scheduled to take place in March at the same venue.
The finale will be preceded by a third/fourth place fight on the same card which will see Knapp lining up against Truter as they fight for the bronze prize.
The finale will be a rematch of the two finalists after their battle earlier this year, where the least experienced Allen schooled Thysse – who was made to look below average.
It will still be a memory fresh in the mind of the lanky Thysse – which can only add an extra incentive to the bout which can only benefit the fans. Allen will, of course, be under pressure to prove that the victory was no fluke – especially taking his little experience into consideration.
Other results:
- Ricardo Malajika beat Mnqobi Mkhize, TKO 8
- Layton Gloss beat Arnel Lubisi, TKO 2
- Katlego Khanyisa beat Shawn van Schalkwyk on points (round four).
